Snow loader and melter



Aug. 31, 1926. 1,598,508

W. P. SAUNDERS SNOW LOADER AND M'EL'IER Filed Oct. 35, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M JZUMMOI, Jazmord W. P. SAUNDERS SNOW LOADER AND MELTER Aug. 31 1926. 1,5 98,508

Filed Oct. 25, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Yvon 11oz WE afaa m e/v Aug. 31,1926. 1,598,508

w. P. SAUNDERS SNOW LOADER AND MELTER Filed Oct. 25, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

' UNITED STATES WILLIAM P. SAUNDERS, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

snow LOADER AND MELTER.

Application filed October 23, 1924. Serial No. 745,468.

This invention relates to snow loaders and mcltcrs and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a I combine machine of the character stated adapted to be applied to a frame of a tractor and including means for scraping or plowing the snow upon the surface of a roadway and for moving the snow laterally in order that it may be gathered between the wings of a scoop which is pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine behind the plow or scraper. Means are provided for raising and lowering the scraper and scoop simultane- M ously.

An elevator is located at the rear of the scoop and is adapted to lift the snow and deposit the same under a hood and in a hopper which is heated interiorly by exhaust from the engine of the tractor. Rotating blades are provided for moving the snow along the scoop.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the snow loader and melter.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with parts thereof shown in section.

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevational view of the rear portion of the snow loader and melter.

Figure 4- is a detailed sectional view of an intermediate portion of the snow loader and melter.

Figure 5 is a rear elovational view of an intermediate portion of the scraper which is used upon the snow loader and melter.

As illustrated in the drawing, the fran'ie of the tractor to which the snow loader and melter is connected is indicated at 1 and the exhaust muffler at 2. The loader and mclter comprises a frame 3 which is pivotally connected with the frame 1 by means of a rod 4 or its equivalent. The rear portion of the frame 3 is mounted upon an axle 5 which is in turn supported upon wheels 6. A funnel sha ed hopper 7 is mounted upon the interme iate portion of the frame 3 and a valve 8 is mounted for sliding movement in the lower end portion of said hopper. The valve 8 is operatively connected with a lever 9 which may be swung and which is pivoted upon the rame 3 and when the said lever is moved upon the frame 3 the valve 8 is moved from a closed to an open position or vice versa in the lower smaller end of the hopper. A pipe 10 is connected at one end with the exhaust muffler 2 and extends back into the upper portion of the hopper 7 where it is coiled as at 11 and is adapted to transmit the heated exhaust gases and products of combustion from the muiller into the hopper where the said gases and products of combustion are discharged. A hood 12 is disposed over the upper larger end of the hop per 7 and communicates at its rear end with the upper end of a vertically disposed casing 13 which is mounted upon the rear portion of the frame 3.

An endless belt 14 is mounted for orbital movement along the casing 13 and is pr0- vided at spaced intervals with buckets 15. The lower portion of the belt 14 is trained around a shaft 16 journaled at the rear 01'- tion of the frame 3 and which is rotate by a chain 17 trained around a sprocket wheel 18 mounted upon the axle 5 and the upper run of the said chain engages the teeth of a sprocket wheel 19 mounted upon the shaft 16. The casing 13 is provided at its lower end and at its forward side with an opening 20 which communicates with the rear end of a trough 21 pivotally mounted upon a shaft 22 carried by the frame 3. The shaft 22 is driven by the chain 17 and rotates in unison with the axle 5. Radially disposed blades 23 are mounted upon the shaft 22 and disposed within the trough 21 at a point between the ends thereof and between the opposite side walls thereof. The bottom of the trough 21 is forwardly and downwardly inclined and is provided with a roller 24 which is adapted to travel upon the surface of the roadway when the trough 21 is in the lowered position as indicated in Figure '1 of the drawing. The trough 21 is provided at the forward end of its side Walls with outwardly flared wings 25. Cable sections 26 are connected at one end with the side walls of the trough 21 at the upper forward edges thereof and are trained over pulleys 27 journaled under the intermediate portion of the frame 3 and are extended forwardly and connected with arms 28 mounted upon a shaft 29 which is journaled at the forward portion of the frame 3. A handle lever 30 is fixed to the shaft 29 and may be used for turning the said shaft. It is apparent that when the lever 30 is swung, the shaft 29 will be turned whereby the arms 28 are rocked and the cable sections 26 are moved longitudinally whereby the trough 21 is swung upon the shaft 22 as a pivot. Arcuate v trarlosections 31 are mounted under the inlermddiate portion of the frame 3 and 'in the vicinity of the side edges thereof and hangers 32 are mounted for sliding movement upon the track sections 31. A scraper blade 33 is pivotally connected with the hangers 32 and the said scraper blade is pivotally connected at a point between its ends with a shaft 34 which is journaled upon the frame 3. A cross arm 35 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 34 and is operatively connected by means of rods 36 with a cross arm 37 fixed to the lower portion of a vertically disposed shaft 38 also journaled upon the frame 3. The shaft 38 carries at its upper end a hand wheel 3!) which may be used by an operator for turning the shaft 38. The cable section 40 is connected at its rear end with the intermediate portion of the scraper blade 33 and connected at its forward end with an arm 41 which is fixed to the shaft 29 hcrcinbe fore described. I

It is apparent that when the lever 30 is swung and the shaft 29 is turned as hereinbefore stated, the arm 41 will be rocked whereby the cable section 40 is moved longitudiual'lymid simultaneously with'the swinging movement of the trough 21, the scraper blade 33 is caused to swing upon its pivotal eonnertion with the shaft 34 and the hangers 32. As the shaft 38 is turned the cross bar 37 is swung whereby the rods 36 are moved longitudinally and the cross bar 35 apd shaft I 34L are turned thus changing the position of the scraper blade 33 under the frame 3 and under the track sections 31. During this movement of the scraper blade the hangers 32 move along the arcuate track sections 31 and the scraper blade may be adjusted so that. one of its ends is disposed in advance o l its other end and under the frame 3. The operation of the machine is as follows- \Vhile the machine is being drawn over the surface of a roadway the exhaust gases and products of combustion pass from the muffler 2 through the pipe 10 and are discharged from the coil 11 into the hopper 7. Thus the said hopper is interiorly heated. At the same time the scraper blade 33 encounters the snow and forces the same in a bundle toward one or the other of the wings 25. When the lower forward edge of the trough 21 is encountered with the snow it is forced up along the bottom of the said trough and engaged by the blades 23 which beat the material rearwardly and toward the opening 26 at the lower end of the casing 13. The snow passes through the said opening and is encountered by the buckets 15 and elevated and carried up under the hood 23 and deposited in the hopper 7 and upon the coils 11. Thus, the snow is brought in contact with the heat and is melted and at suitable intervals the valve 8 may be withdrawn from across the lower end of the hopper and the water or melted snow may be permitted to drain from the hopper and pass into a sewer or other conduit provided at the surface of the roadway.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A snow loader and melter including, in combination, a frame, a trough mounted under the frame to extend longitudinally thereof, a hopper mounted on the frame to extend vertically thereof and having its bottom outlet positioned so that a line drawn vertically from the forward edge of the -trough, would ass through said outlet, heating means in t e ho per, and means for delivering snow from t c trough into the upper end of the hopper.

2. A snow loader and melter including, in combination, a frame, a trough mounted under the frame to extend longitudinally thereof, a hopper mounted on the frame to extend vertically thereof and having its outlet bottom end positioned so that a line drawn vertically from the forward edge of the trough would pass thru said outlet. heating means in the hopper for delivering snow from the trough into the upper end of the hopper, andside wings at the forward end of the trough for guiding snow thereinto and assisting in mixing said gathered snow with the water which will flow from the outlet of the hopper.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM P. SAUNDERS.

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